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Slate Roofing Provides Natural Beauty that Lasts

At GSM Roofing, we have a passion for slate roofing, and it’s obvious. That’s why we were chosen to help write the updated slate installation manual for the National Slate Association. Our talented craftspeople have worked on historical buildings, educational facilities, and more—and our customers consistently rave about the results.

Many intricacies come with installing natural slate roofing, and we’ll work with you to choose a thickness, color, and look that you’ll love. We can even mimic an existing roofing system or work from an old photograph to recreate a historical slate-shingle design.

The Many Advantages of Slate Roofing

Slate roofs are not the most common type; however, they come with some noted benefits.

  • The slate roofing system we install will be the last slate roof you’ll ever have to buy. That’s because slate can easily last a century or more.
  • Slate is an environmentally conscious choice. It’s naturally sourced and long-lasting, reducing manufacturing and landfill waste.
  • Slate is an excellent choice if you want a commercial roof that is unlike any other—even when compared to other slate roofs. No two slate shingles or tiles are alike.
  • Slate roofs require very little maintenance, except periodic inspections and occasional repairs.
  • Because slate is naturally fire-resistant, a slate roof may result in insurance discounts.
  • Slate roofing is insect-proof, so termites will not be a problem with this type of roof.
  • When installed correctly, very few weather conditions will cause damage or leaks in slate roofing. It is one of the most durable roofing systems available.
  • And because of all the advantages listed above, your property’s value will be positively impacted by installing a slate roof.

Whether you’re replacing an existing slate roofing system or you’d like to make the switch to a slate roof for your commercial or historical building, reach out to the slate specialists at GSM Roofing. We’ll help you decide if slate is the best choice.

We Only Use High-Quality, Long-Lasting Slate

At GSM Roofing, we are committed to excellence in everything we do—and that starts with obtaining slate tiles and shingles that directly contribute to the longevity of your roof. The quarries we source from have processes that result in the highest quality products, and those processes include:

Slate Mining

Quarries will first locate a vein of slate. They uncover it, break it into coarse three- to four-ton pieces, and haul it from the quarry to a stone-cutting area where it’s jackhammered into pieces that are easier to handle.

Slate Cutting

Next, the slate is sawed into blocks using radial saws with diamond-tipped blades. Then the blocks are smoothed by cutting excess stone from all surfaces.

Slate Splitting

The blocks are split by hand into the slate shingles we recognize in the next stage. This step requires extreme precision and skill, and still, the slate tiles may crack and become unusable. In fact, only about 15% of that slate will make it past this stage.

Slate Trimming

The final stage of slate shingle and tile production is the most customized. Each one is trimmed to meet the specifications for a particular style of slate roofing.

Slate Punching

Slate tiles will need nail holes to be secured to the roof without splitting or breaking. This task is a specialized skill since each hole needs to be punched where the slate is strongest.

Slate Shipping

Slate tiles and shingles are tightly hand-packed to minimize damage during transit. Because slate is still easily broken or chipped in shipping, we always account for this when placing orders with slate quarries.

All of the roofing materials we purchase from our manufacturers offer the best value for your money, and we’re proud to be certified and awarded installers. Let’s talk about slate roofing, historical roofing, or specialty roofing today!

Made with Pride featuring, GSM Roofing’s own, Alan Buohl

From the co-executive producer of the Deadliest Catch and stars from the hit show Barnwood Builders, Made With Pride’s Mark Bowe works as an apprentice to the GSM Roofing team, learning how to install a slate roof. The episode features one of GSM Roofing’s 2015 Great Roof Giveaway winners, LancasterHistory.org.

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Thanks Lenny,

The roof repair looks fantastic. Your guys did an excellent job!

Ronald Ladieu June 28, 2022